Rosa hybrida shrub named &#39;AUSNOBLE&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSnoble’, suitable for repeat flowering production having a vigorous upright growth that is very healthy with light green foliage that is almost thornless, and that produces beautifully rounded flowers with neatly placed petals making a perfect rosette, with buds that are lightly tinged yellow, but with flowers that open to become pure white, and that produce a light apple fragrance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a European Plant Breeder'sRights Application No. 2012/1943, filed Sep. 12, 2012, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSnoble’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSnoble’, which was originated by crossing two unnamed,unpatented varieties of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to grow a rose with avigorous upright growth that is very healthy with light green foliagethat is almost thornless, and that produces beautifully rounded flowerswith neatly placed petals making a perfect rosette, with buds that arelightly tinged yellow, but with flowers that open to become pure white,and that produce a light apple fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: pure white rosetteshaped blooms, a light apple fragrance, and light green musk rosefoliage with almost thornless stems.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed ingreenhouses at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that theforegoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form andare established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSnoble’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in theUnited States, and on the plant/rootstock Rosa dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ inthe United Kingdom.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: whereas the seed parent has smaller pinkflowers and is less disease resistant, ‘AUSnoble’ bears white flowersthat are very healthy. The new variety is classified as a hybrida rose.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas the pollen parentbears pink semi-double flowers, ‘AUSnoble’ bears double blooms of purewhite.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivars to the new variety are the‘AUSprior’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,465) and ‘AUSrelate’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 18,702). The new rose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSprior’variety by the following combination of characteristics: ‘AUSprior’ hasa more arching growth habit and is taller (making a climber of up to 2.4m), whereas ‘AUSnoble’ makes a more upright shrub reaching 1.25 m. Inaddition, the blooms of ‘AUSprior’ are more cupped than those of‘AUSnoble’, which flatten to form rosettes. Likewise, the new rose maybe distinguished from the ‘AUSrelate’ variety by the followingcombination of characteristics: ‘AUSrelate’ bears blooms of an apricotcolor with a fragrance that has strong notes of clove, whereas‘AUSnoble’ has pure white blooms with an apple fragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 1 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of July.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, but there are too many to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 2 cm long and 2.3 cm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is globular.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is            Yellow-green (RHS 1D) and Red-purple (RHS 58A). When half            blown, the upper sides of the petals are RHS 155C, and the            lower sides of the petals are RHS 155C.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper Surface: (RHS 147C). Lower Surface:            (RHS 144A). Length: 2.3 cm. Width: 10 mm. Shape: Lanceolate.            Surface texture: Upper Surface: Downy. Lower Surface:            Smooth. Number: There are three lightly appendaged sepals.            There are 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.        -   Receptacles.—Color: Green (RHS 143A). Shape: Funnel. Size:            broad, about 0.8 cm×1 cm. Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: medium, averaging about 7 cm. Surface:            rough. Color: Medium green with some reddish tints.            Strength: Strong.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Large, average open diameter is about 9 cm.        -   Borne.—Singly in clusters of 1-4 blooms having rounded            shape.        -   Stems.—Strength: Strong, average length is about 8 cm.            Diameter: 5 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is cupped. Permanence of bloom:            flattens.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 110.        -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are White (RHS 155C).            The reverse sides of the petals are White (155C). The base            of the petals is (RHS 155C).        -   Variegations.—N/A        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is (RHS 155C) and at the end of the third day is (RHS            155C).        -   Fragrance.—Slight. Character of fragrance: Musk.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 2.4 cm. Length: 4 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Margin.—Entire with some petals notched, weak undulation.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Form.—Slightly incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.        -   Petaloids.—Number: 4-6. Color: Petal: RHS 155C; Anther: RHS            4D; Filament: RHS 4D. Length: Petal: 10-25 mm. Anther: 2 mm.            Filament: 4 mm.        -   Persistence.—Petals hang on and dry.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: long, about 8 days. As a cut            flower: not tested.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 45. Length: 6 mm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 2 mm. Color: RHS 15A. Arrangement: Regular            around styles.        -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow-orange (RHS 14C). Length: 4 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow-orange (RHS 15A).        -   Pistils.—Number: Average. Length: 4.8 mm and 7.8 mm (two            distinctive lengths are observed).        -   Styles.—Color: (RHS 154D). Length: 4 mm & 7 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: (RHS 39B). Length: 0.8 mm.        -   Hips.—None Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Vigorous, upright, bushy.-   Age to maturity: Two years.-   Mature plant: Height: 120 cm. Width: 90 cm.-   Rootstock: Rosa ‘Dr. Huey’ for U.S. and Rosa dumetorum ‘Laxa’ for    observed plants in the U.K.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 3 or 5            (including terminal leaflet).        -   Size.—Medium, about 14 cm long×12 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Abundant. Number of leaves per flowering stem is:            8.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Yellow-Green Group (RHS            146B). Lower side: Yellow-Green RHS (146C). Old foliage:            Upper side: Yellow-Green Group (RHS 147A). Lower side:            Yellow-Green RHS (146B).-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 6 cm long×4.5 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Broadly Oval.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: Green (RHS 143A). Length: 4.5 cm. Width:            18 mm. Surface Texture: smooth.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: Greyed-orange (RHS 174A). Underside:            smooth.        -   Stipules.—Length: 2.6 cm, smooth with a glandular margin.            Color: Yellow-green (146C).        -   Auricle.—Shape: Sword-shaped. Length: 6 mm. Width: 2 mm.            Color: Yellow-Green (RHS 146C).        -   Vein color.—As leaf color.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: Violet-red (RHS 178B). Bark: Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: Light-Green (RHS 146B). Bark: Smooth with            some rough patches.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 60 cm. Diameter: 8 mm.        -   Internode distance.—8 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: few. Number per stem            length: 3 per 10 cm. On laterals from main canes: few.            Number per stem length: 2 per 10 cm.        -   Form.—Deep concave.        -   Length.—6 mm.        -   Color when young.—Greyed-red (RHS 182B).        -   Color when mature.—Greyed-orange (RHS 177D).-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Mildew.—Resistant.        -   Blackspot.—Resistant.        -   Rust.—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class suitable for repeat flower production, substantially asherein shown and described.